When you're done with the final rinse and feeling refreshed, there's one more important step to take before exiting the shower, and it has nothing to do with cleaning your body. It's grabbing a shower squeegee and giving your surround and shower floor a few quick swipes.

It's so incredibly simple that many people skip using a squeegee entirely, but that can be a big mistake. What takes mere seconds can save you lots of time in the long run, plus it has plenty of other benefits to boot:

Health: Due to surface tension, your shower never really fully drains. There are always droplets that remain and this sitting water can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Even more water remains in tiled showers where grout absorbs moisture and colonies of bacteria can grow. When you squeegee, you eliminate much of this remaining water and dramatically reduce microorganism growth at the same time.

Time: After a bath or shower, dirt, body oils and soap residue stick to the tub and shower surround. Over time, this becomes rock-hard soap scum that can be incredibly difficult to remove. A squeegee routine takes less than a minute while removing tough soap scum can take hours, so save time and be proactive so you don't spend your Saturday scrubbing.

Environmental: In addition to a time investment, deeply cleaning soap scum often requires harsh chemicals and detergents. These cleaners go into the community's water systems and must be treated properly. Go with a squeegee for a 100 percent earth-friendly cleaning strategy instead.

Money: Finally, those harsh cleaners can be costly. Over time, that becomes a significant investment. A quality squeegee is a small investment that will last for years. Get one today, integrate it into your morning routine and you'll enjoy the countless benefits immediately.

In other words, don't get too carried away during the redecoration process. If you do, you might end up with a bathroom that is complicated and crowded rather than a bathroom that is sleek and minimalistic.

No matter what your personal style happens to be, there are things you can do to have the sort of bathroom you've always wanted. So read on for 5 ways to create a sleek bathroom.

Simplicity
You need to resist the urge to do too much. What you should be striving for is not only clean lines, but also streamlined aspects. When you're gunning for sleek, you need to resist the desire to add complicated pieces such as items with extreme designs or contours. Less, as they say, is more.

Use Wood Sparingly
Wood can be your enemy if you want your bathroom to have a sleek look. While you can use wood to introduce more color to your bathroom, the pieces you use should be very simple. If the details in the wood are too pronounced, then get rid of it because they ornate details are the enemy of sleek.

Splash of Color
Paint can help to improve the look of just about any room, but steer clear of it if you want your bathroom to look modern and sleek. Instead of putting on a coat or two of paint, you can add color by strategically adding colored objects, such as decorative stones.

Plain Jane is the Ideal Choice
In the interests of achieving a sleek look, you may want to go with a plain Jane minimalist approach. For instance, you can paint your bathroom in white and to give the room an anchor piece that pulls everything together, like a claw foot bathtub or ornate vanity mirror.

Monotone your Accessories
Ditching all accessories will make your bathroom unusable for most purposes, but you want to avoid going overboard, especially with colour. Specifically, you should only go with accessories that complement, rather than detract from, your sleek, minimalist goal. Avoiding texturized or colorful accessories in favor of chrome pieces like simple and stylish towel stands will keep your area looking elegant.

Creating a sleek bedroom isn't all that difficult if you go about it the right way. Take the aforementioned suggestions to heart when you work on your bathroom and you'll have a welcoming area that's ideal for a relaxing evening in the tub or a quick refresh in the morning.

Just in time for Christmas

Serves 8

3 cups (700ml) whole milk
1 cup (240ml) heavy or double cream
3 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean pod, split and seeds removed
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
5 eggs, separated
2/3 (130g) cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (175ml) Bacardi Dark Rum, or Bourbon
 
In a saucepan, combine milk, cream, cinnamon, vanilla bean, vanilla seeds, and nutmeg. Bring to the boil over a medium heat. Once boiling, remove from the heat and allow to steep.

In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until combined and thick ribbons form when the whisk is lifted. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue to mix until the mixture is combined and smooth. Add bourbon or rum, and stir. Refrigerate overnight or for up to 3 days.

Before serving, beat the egg whites in a large bowl or stand mixer until soft peaks form. Gently fold into eggnog until combined. Serve and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
 

The bathroom is a highly functional space, one where great organization is needed to boost efficiency and create a clean look. That doesn't mean, however, that your bathroom can't have style, too. Just ask yourself: How often do guests use my bathroom during their visits? Probably more often than not, so when they do stop by, you want your bathroom to impress. Additionally, it's important that you feel good in your home. People often skimp on decor in their bathroom, thinking that a pleasing environment is necessary only in the living room or bedroom. In reality, though, a decorative bathroom can enhance the entire home.

Design a bathroom that combines organization and style to create a space that is clutter-free and aesthetically pleasing. These seven accessories are essential for achieving a tidy, beautiful bathroom.

1. An Eye-Catching Shower Curtain: Decorating a bathroom can be tricky, as you don't want to crowd precious counter space with useless accessories. A stunning curtain featuring a bright color or interesting pattern adds style without sacrificing functionality.

2. Drawer Organizers: Hair ties, brushes, toothpaste, contactsyou need to stuff a lot of miscellaneous items into your bathroom drawers. Drawer organizers can help you keep like items together, making them easier to find.

3. Decorative Towels: Similar to the shower curtain, towels can be a great way to add style to your bathroom. Choose a color and/or design that suites your taste, and instead of storing them in a closet, hang one or two in the bathroom to serve as decor.

4. Shower Organization: When you're running late in the morning, an efficient system can feel like a life saver. Keep all of your soap, shampoo and other products in one place with a shower basket so you can reduce the amount of time you spend getting ready.

5. Superior Lighting: Great lighting can prevent makeup mishaps as well as headaches. If you can, let in as much natural light as possible and use ambient lighting to set a soothing tone.

6. Tickle Tray: If you use bar soap, you know how frustrating it can be to clean up the soap scum each week. Use the trickle tray to reduce mess and keep your counter tops looking great.

7. Soothing Decor: Lastly, soothing decor can help you create a spa-like environment in your bathroom. Light up a scented candle and add a plant or two to design a more peaceful space.

In 2015, you might be one of the ten's of thousands of homeowners across the country considering a home renovation project. Bathroom renovations are widely popular in the current marketplace because they can help homeowners achieve a long-term return on investment.

In order to make the most of the renovation, it's important to add to the upgrade with accessories that improve both home functionality and design elegance. Here, we'll review several unique additions you can make to your bathroom renovation work.

Luxury Shower Dispensers

Luxury shower dispensers serve a multitude of benefits within the modern bathroom. Firstly, they can help you minimize clutter within your bathroom space, as they reduce the need for storing shampoo and shower gel close to the shower. Secondly, luxury shower dispensers bring a sense of convenience. No longer will you have to reach through the shower water to find that bottle of shampoo. You'll know be able to simply press a button within the shower space to retrieve all hair and body cleaning liquids.

The latest products on the marketplace include the LINEA Luxury Soap and Shower Dispensers, which are designed with one, two or three chambers and all come with an auto-lock feature to prevent the chambers from being knocked from the bracket. And because the product's pump pre-measures the amount before dispensing, the system offers exceptional ease-of-use.

Makeup Battle Stations

If you're a fan of YouTube makeup tutorials, there's no doubt that you've dreamed of having your own makeup battle station in your bathroom. The good news? It's one of the less expensive ways to upgrade your space!

If you have unused space in your bathroom, purchase a chair that matches your aesthetics and place it in front of your vanity mirror. With a little additional storage reserved solely for makeup and hair products, you have yourself the perfect area to get ready in, whether it be for an average day at work or an exciting night out.

Trickle Trays

Trickle Trays are a convenient answer to a common challenge within the bathroom space.

Homeowners and homemakers often find that, after many uses, their soap begins to drip from the soap dish onto the benchtops. Trickle Trays help resolve this issue through the use of separate channels that direct the liquid flow into an adjacent sink space. The latest products are available in a broad assortment of colours to complement any bathroom décor arrangement!

Make a statement with your bathroom renovations this year by integrating the latest industry accessories. It takes just a little work to truly transform the design and inherent value of the bathroom space.